Month: August 2024
“We run a business”—why Microsoft’s Indiana Jones will be on PS5
Spencer: “There’s going to be more change in how… games are built and distributed.”
Enlarge / So I’m not stuck on Xbox, eh? (credit: Bethesda)
Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is the latest game from a Microsoft subsidiary that will make its way to the PlayStation 5. The game will hit Sony’s console in the spring of 2025, Microsoft announced yesterday, months after a planned December launch on Xbox Series S/X and Windows.
In an interview with YouTube channel Xbox On, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer expanded on that decision, implying that multiplatform releases for Microsoft gaming properties were important to the Xbox division’s bottom line. “We run a business,” he said, “It’s definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery that we have to give back to the company, because we get a level of support from the company that’s just amazing in what we’re able to go do.”
Phil Spencer’s comments come about three minutes into this interview.
Amid massive layoffs that have hit Xbox and other gaming companies in recent months, Spencer noted that there’s “a lot of pressure on the [game] industry” these days. “[The industry] has been growing for a long, long time and now people are looking for ways to grow,” he said. “And I think that us, as fans, as players of games, we just have to anticipate there’s going to be more change in how some of the traditional ways that games were built and distributed [ars] going to change… for all of us.”
McAfee’s Deepfake Detector keeps it real for Lenovo AI PCs
McAfee debuts Deepfake Detector for Lenovo AI PCs.
Deepfake videos are an impressive demonstration of how AI can mimic real people, but the technology is too often leveraged to trick people into thinking they are seeing and hearing a real person, especially celebrities. It’s a cybersecurity issue, which is why McAfee has partnered with Lenovo to bring its Deepfake Detector exclusively to Lenovo AI PCs. As the name suggests, McAfee’s Deepfake Detector spots and flags deepfake videos, the kind that have scammed people out of their money, more than half a million dollars in some extreme cases.
McAfee has been developing ways of limiting deepfake-fueled scams for a few years, but the Deepfake Detector takes that effort to a new level. The tool was trained on around 200,000 video samples to teach it how to accurately identify audio generated or altered with AI. It runs in the background like most anti-virus software, scanning video content playing both online and locally. Should it note a deepfake, it alerts the user and lets them decide what to do about it.
“Knowledge is power, and this has never been truer than in the AI-driven world we’re living in today,” McAfee Senior Vice President of Product Roma Majumder said. “No more wondering, is this Warren Buffet investment scheme legitimate, does Taylor Swift really want to give away cookware to fans, or did a politician actually say these words? The answers are provided to you automatically and within seconds with McAfee Deepfake Detector.”
Deepfake Detection Drama
The Deepfake Detector is specifically designed to operate on select Lenovo AI PCs because they are built with a neural processing unit (NPU) that enhances on-device AI capabilities. The computer can monitor and tag a video as a deepfake without needing to upload data to the cloud. The whole analysis stays on the device, which is a boon for the more privacy-minded PC user. The Deepfake Detector is now available in select Lenovo AI PCs in the U.S., UK, and Australia. A new purchase of a Lenovo AI PC comes with a free 30-day trial, with subscriptions starting at $10 a year afterward.
Those interested in buying a Lenovo AI PC with the Deepfake Detector may have to check who built the NPU, however. Earlier this year, McAfee announced that the Deepfake Detector would be exclusive to certain Intel chips with an NPU, but it’s not clear if the Lenovo exclusivity deal removes that limit. Lenovo’s AI PC portfolio includes computers with NPUs built by chipmakers besides Intel, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. We’ve reached out to McAfee and Lenovo to find out and will update you when we learn more.
“At McAfee, we’re inspired by the transformative potential of AI and are committed to helping shape a future where AI is used for good. Teaming up with Lenovo boosts our ability to deliver the most effective, automated, AI-powered deepfake detection, offering people a powerful digital guardian on their PCs,” Majumder said.
Even if you don’t have the right kind of Lenovo, you can still check if a video is a deepfake with the new McAfee Smart AI Hub at McAfee.ai. The website is designed to educate consumers about AI-driven scams, including deepfakes. But it’s not just reading material. Visitors can submit videos for analysis to find out if it’s a deepfake scam, and McAfee will use it to improve the educational content further and adapt its defensive software.
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Paramount Plus Slashes Annual Plan Prices Ahead of NFL Season
For a limited time, you can save 50% on a yearly subscription plan.
For a limited time, you can save 50% on a yearly subscription plan.
Microsoft Copilot Studio Exploit Leaks Sensitive Cloud Data
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Dark Reading: Researchers have exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft’s Copilot Studio tool allowing them to make external HTTP requests that can access sensitive information regarding internal services within a cloud environment — with potential impact across multiple tenants. Tenable researchers discovered the server-side request forgery (SSRF) flaw in the chatbot creation tool, which they exploited to access Microsoft’s internal infrastructure, including the Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) and internal Cosmos DB instances, they revealed in a blog post this week. Tracked by Microsoft as CVE-2024-38206, the flaw allows an authenticated attacker to bypass SSRF protection in Microsoft Copilot Studio to leak sensitive cloud-based information over a network, according to a security advisory associated with the vulnerability. The flaw exists when combining an HTTP request that can be created using the tool with an SSRF protection bypass, according to Tenable.
“An SSRF vulnerability occurs when an attacker is able to influence the application into making server-side HTTP requests to unexpected targets or in an unexpected way,” Tenable security researcher Evan Grant explained in the post. The researchers tested their exploit to create HTTP requests to access cloud data and services from multiple tenants. They discovered that “while no cross-tenant information appeared immediately accessible, the infrastructure used for this Copilot Studio service was shared among tenants,” Grant wrote. Any impact on that infrastructure, then, could affect multiple customers, he explained. “While we don’t know the extent of the impact that having read/write access to this infrastructure could have, it’s clear that because it’s shared among tenants, the risk is magnified,” Grant wrote. The researchers also found that they could use their exploit to access other internal hosts unrestricted on the local subnet to which their instance belonged. Microsoft responded quickly to Tenable’s notification of the flaw, and it has since been fully mitigated, with no action required on the part of Copilot Studio users, the company said in its security advisory. Further reading: Slack AI Can Be Tricked Into Leaking Data From Private Channels
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Dark Reading: Researchers have exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft’s Copilot Studio tool allowing them to make external HTTP requests that can access sensitive information regarding internal services within a cloud environment — with potential impact across multiple tenants. Tenable researchers discovered the server-side request forgery (SSRF) flaw in the chatbot creation tool, which they exploited to access Microsoft’s internal infrastructure, including the Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) and internal Cosmos DB instances, they revealed in a blog post this week. Tracked by Microsoft as CVE-2024-38206, the flaw allows an authenticated attacker to bypass SSRF protection in Microsoft Copilot Studio to leak sensitive cloud-based information over a network, according to a security advisory associated with the vulnerability. The flaw exists when combining an HTTP request that can be created using the tool with an SSRF protection bypass, according to Tenable.
“An SSRF vulnerability occurs when an attacker is able to influence the application into making server-side HTTP requests to unexpected targets or in an unexpected way,” Tenable security researcher Evan Grant explained in the post. The researchers tested their exploit to create HTTP requests to access cloud data and services from multiple tenants. They discovered that “while no cross-tenant information appeared immediately accessible, the infrastructure used for this Copilot Studio service was shared among tenants,” Grant wrote. Any impact on that infrastructure, then, could affect multiple customers, he explained. “While we don’t know the extent of the impact that having read/write access to this infrastructure could have, it’s clear that because it’s shared among tenants, the risk is magnified,” Grant wrote. The researchers also found that they could use their exploit to access other internal hosts unrestricted on the local subnet to which their instance belonged. Microsoft responded quickly to Tenable’s notification of the flaw, and it has since been fully mitigated, with no action required on the part of Copilot Studio users, the company said in its security advisory. Further reading: Slack AI Can Be Tricked Into Leaking Data From Private Channels
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Chick-fil-A plans to launch streaming service with original shows
Fast-food chain is paying up to $400K for unscripted content, Deadline reports.
Enlarge / Would you like a streaming subscription with that? (credit: Getty)
Look out, Peacock. There’s reportedly a new video streaming service that’s avian-themed.
The fast-food chain Chick-fil-A plans to launch a video streaming service, Deadline reported today, citing anonymous sources. The streaming service is expected to focus on “family-friendly” content and include original TV shows, the publication said.
Chick-fil-A declined to comment on Deadline’s report.
Apple Now Allows 45 Days to Extend Your AppleCare Plus Plan
If your device breaks, you might be thankful for this extension.
If your device breaks, you might be thankful for this extension.
Typing These Four Characters Will Make Your iPhone Home Screen Crash
These specific set of characters can cause your home screen to crash on your iPhone or iPad. Here’s what you need to know.
These specific set of characters can cause your home screen to crash on your iPhone or iPad. Here’s what you need to know.
U.S. Investigating Americans Who Worked With Russian State Television
The F.B.I. raided the homes of two prominent commentators on Russian state television channels as part of an effort to blunt attempts to influence November’s election.
The F.B.I. raided the homes of two prominent commentators on Russian state television channels as part of an effort to blunt attempts to influence November’s election.
Apple is shaking up how it manages the App Store
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Apple is splitting its App Store division in half, according to a report from Bloomberg. While one group of employees will run the App Store, the other will manage its approach to alternative marketplaces that have started opening up in the European Union.
As part of the change, App Store vice president Matt Fischer will leave the company after more than a decade in the role. “This has been on my mind for some time, and as we are also reorganizing the team to better manage new challenges and opportunities, now is the right moment to pass the baton to two outstanding leaders on my team,” Fischer writes in an email to employees seen by Bloomberg.
Now, Apple senior director Carson Oliver will reportedly oversee the App Store division, while Ann Thai, a product director at the company, will head up the group that tackles alternative distribution. App Store chief Phil Schiller will oversee both divisions. The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
Apple decided to break up the division after European regulators started requiring Apple to allow third-party payment methods and alternative app stores, Bloomberg reports. Last week, Fortnite returned to the iPhone through the launch of the Epic Games Store on iOS. Other alternative app stores, such as the AltStore PAL, Mobivention, and Aptoid, have also popped up on iPhones in the region.
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Apple is splitting its App Store division in half, according to a report from Bloomberg. While one group of employees will run the App Store, the other will manage its approach to alternative marketplaces that have started opening up in the European Union.
As part of the change, App Store vice president Matt Fischer will leave the company after more than a decade in the role. “This has been on my mind for some time, and as we are also reorganizing the team to better manage new challenges and opportunities, now is the right moment to pass the baton to two outstanding leaders on my team,” Fischer writes in an email to employees seen by Bloomberg.
Now, Apple senior director Carson Oliver will reportedly oversee the App Store division, while Ann Thai, a product director at the company, will head up the group that tackles alternative distribution. App Store chief Phil Schiller will oversee both divisions. The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
Apple decided to break up the division after European regulators started requiring Apple to allow third-party payment methods and alternative app stores, Bloomberg reports. Last week, Fortnite returned to the iPhone through the launch of the Epic Games Store on iOS. Other alternative app stores, such as the AltStore PAL, Mobivention, and Aptoid, have also popped up on iPhones in the region.